Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The first is if two abberant patterned snakes were breed together would the majority of the offspring be born with the pattern?

Second is ... Some mornings when i get up and check on my Hondo he is at the top of the tank resting on a thin ledge between the screen lid and the top of the tank. The tank is a 29 Gallon so it is pretty high and his hiding places are not that tall. He is a baby maybe 14 inches long and for the life of me i cant work out how he gets up there... Im guessing he is trying to escape. would i be correct in guessing this?
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I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

I would say he is trying to escape. I think most snakes do this until they don't fit on that ledge anymore. Derek

My Jalisco Milk does this all the time. They can actually stick to the glass or plastic some of the time. They can also stretch quite a bit.

It's freaky at first because you're like "Where did my snake go?!"

LOL

Walt

Your other answer is I don't think abberancies work that way. I think it is a crap shoot.

Giving the question on abberancies more thought it would make sense as i am yet to see a snake that has the patten from head to tail and if though breeding abberancies together you would make abberant snake i think you would see snakes like this.

Thanks for the replys and you have some beautiful snakes
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I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Maybe not trying to escape per se, but rather trying to get somewere for whatever reason. Many times it is caused by not being content with the environment. Small snakes like the one you describe actually feel more secure in a much smaller cage. But if it is being well fed, and at a reasonable temp. approx.(78- 83), and given a nice hidden secure place to hide(very important) he'll be fine. This is very common to find them up at the rim of the aquarium. They get there by using what is known as "rectilinear" motion, otherwise known as "concertine" motion. they crawl up the "gummy" silicone sealant in the corners. This gives them excellent traction to go up to the top!!. As for your other question pertaining to aberrant to aberrant breeding. Most aberrant patterns in "Milks" are not hereditary, although some are known to be(e.g. "bullseye pattern". But most of them are just genetic flukes that can even be caused from extreme temps while incubating, fungus on the egg shell, and just plain chance.They must be hereditary(not circumstancial) from both parents in order to pass that trait on to the offspring. However, that is not to say you won't get some aberrants, it's just impossible to say is all.........hope this helped,....Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

He Has two hiding places One on the warm side which is about 84 degrees and one on the cooler side not sure on the temp on the cooler side. He pretty much spends equal amount of time in both sides.

I have been trying to get him used to being handled, hes very active for about the first five minutes of being out trying to sliver off in any and all directions but after the 5mins or so he just chills wrapped around my hand or wrist.
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I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

I forgot to add his favourite place to be is actually behind one of the hiding spaces. Its a uncovered area in the corner of the tank.

Maybe he would be happier in a smaller tank for a while....
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I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.

My milk snake is similar in that I have to pick him up in a ball and he's OK until he warms up. Then he will try to get away. If I pick him up by one spot and he hangs, he will fling and musk me.

I need to take some new pics of my snakes...

Walt

That's the prettiest Albino Tangerine I've ever seen!

Is he/she skittish at all or will it allow handling?

Now you're making me wish is was July/August!

Walt

Thanks for the kind words,.....Yes, I hold him fairly often and he has a good temperment, as most all my animals do...In my many years with Milksnakes, and many other species as well, They are just not as bad as many people say. It's all in the careful, gentle, way that they are held, along with some "slick" handling techniques that I've learned over the years.....Some of my Hondurans just sit in my hand like a Boa Constrictor, or Cornsnake,.....here is a pic of the female "tangerine" that I will pair with him when they are old enough to breed,...she is actually MUCH more "neon/pumpkin orange" than the photo shows!, also a real nice "extreme" hypo. Honduran,...best regards, Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!